CorazĂłn Aquino
CorazĂłn Aquino
1933 — 2009
Philippines
Émotions disponibles (6)
Neutre
par défaut
Inspirée
Pensive
Surprise
Triste
Fière
Key Facts
Works & Achievements
Adopted under Aquino's presidency, this constitution restored parliamentary democracy, limited the presidential term to a single non-renewable six-year term, and guaranteed the fundamental rights suppressed under Marcos.
A program to redistribute agricultural land to landless peasants, one of the most ambitious social reforms in Philippine history, though its implementation remained incomplete.
Upon taking power, Aquino released the thousands of political prisoners jailed by Marcos and restored fundamental civil liberties.
Aquino restored the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives, which had been dissolved under Marcos's dictatorship, thereby strengthening the separation of powers.
Attempts at dialogue with the communist New People's Army (NPA), marking a break from the exclusively military approach of the Marcos regime.
Anecdotes
After the assassination of her husband Benigno Aquino in 1983 at Manila airport, CorazĂłn decided to enter politics despite her lack of experience. She declared: "I am accused of having no experience. That is true. I have never been involved in corruption." This phrase became a powerful slogan against the Marcos regime.
During the peaceful revolution of February 1986, millions of Filipinos took to the streets of Manila holding yellow flowers and images of the Virgin Mary. Faced with tanks sent by Marcos, nuns and civilians stood in front of the armored vehicles, bringing them to a halt. This "People Power Revolution" established itself as a global model of non-violent resistance.
CorazĂłn Aquino always wore yellow, a color chosen in tribute to the song "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree", a symbol of hope for the return of her imprisoned husband. This color became the emblem of all her political action, and her supporters affectionately nicknamed her "Cory".
Despite seven coup attempts between 1986 and 1992, CorazĂłn Aquino remained in power without ever imposing martial law, unlike her predecessor. She restored democracy and respected the Constitution by refusing to seek a second presidential term, a rare gesture in Southeast Asia at the time.
Primary Sources
I ask the Lord to grant me the wisdom to govern with justice, the courage to act according to my convictions, and the compassion to serve all Filipinos, rich and poor.
Our people chose to fight the dictatorship with peace and prayer. That choice cost us dearly, but it restored our freedom.
They can kill my husband, but they cannot kill his ideas or our people's dream of freedom.
I am a simple housewife who was thrust by circumstances into the heart of the struggle for democracy. I did not choose this role, but I embrace it fully.
Key Places
Official residence and seat of the President of the Philippines, which Corazon Aquino occupied from 1986 to 1992 following Marcos's exile. She chose not to reside there permanently as a way to mark a break with the ostentation of the previous regime.
It was here that Benigno Aquino was assassinated on August 21, 1983, upon his return from exile, sparking the popular movement that would bring Corazon to power. The airport today bears Benigno's nickname (Ninoy) in his memory.
Main thoroughfare of Manila where the People Power Revolution took place in February 1986. Millions of Filipinos formed a human chain there to block the pro-Marcos armed forces.
Home province of the Cojuangco family, to which Corazon belonged. She grew up there in a family of large landowners, which explains the tensions surrounding agrarian reform during her presidency.
City where Corazon Aquino pursued her university studies at Mount Saint Vincent College, and where the family later lived in exile from 1980 to 1983. It was from the United States that she followed the rise of the opposition to Marcos.
Typical Objects
CorazĂłn Aquino always wore yellow, a symbolic color of hope and the return of her imprisoned husband. This wardrobe choice became her recognizable visual identity worldwide.
A devout Catholic, CorazĂłn Aquino never parted with her rosary. Religious faith was at the heart of her political commitment and non-violent resistance.
Portraits of her assassinated husband were omnipresent at her rallies and offices. He symbolized the democratic martyr whose legacy she carried.
Protesters of the People Power Revolution brandished yellow flowers before soldiers and tanks. This peaceful gesture, inspired by Aquino, marked the history of non-violent revolutions.
During the 1986 electoral campaign, CorazĂłn Aquino traveled thousands of kilometers holding popular rallies, using megaphones to address crowds in the most remote villages.
She took her oath on the Bible and drew from the Christian tradition constant references to social justice and the liberation of the oppressed.
School Curriculum
Vocabulary & Tags
Key Vocabulary
Tags
Lieu
Daily Life
Morning
Corazón Aquino invariably began her day with Mass and prayer, a Catholic practice deeply rooted since childhood. She would then read newspapers and reports from her advisors before receiving her first official visitors at Malacañang Palace.
Afternoon
Her afternoons were occupied by official audiences, cabinet meetings, and meetings with foreign delegations. She also devoted time to agrarian reform files, a source of constant tension with large landowners, including her own family.
Evening
In the evenings, she often withdrew to pray with her family, read, and rest. A naturally private woman, she avoided social gatherings and preferred family meals to overly frequent state dinners.
Food
Corazón Aquino's diet was typically Filipino: white rice at every meal, grilled fish and seafood, sautéed vegetables, adobo (meat marinated in vinegar and garlic), sinigang (sour soup). She appreciated simple, home-style cooking, far removed from presidential pomp.
Clothing
Her sartorial signature was the yellow dress, a political symbol of her movement. She frequently wore the terno, the traditional Filipino dress with butterfly sleeves, in pale yellow or golden fabric for official occasions. Her attire always reflected sobriety and dignity.
Housing
As president, she resided at Malacañang Palace but preferred to use the private apartments rather than the ceremonial rooms associated with the Marcos era's ostentation. She also kept her family residence in Quezon City, a symbol of her closeness to ordinary life.
Historical Timeline
Period Vocabulary
Gallery
Corazon Aquino 1992
Corazon Aquino at Andrews AFB DF-SC-88-01605
Corazon Aquino 1986
Phillipine President Corazon Aquino and Mayor Raymond L. Flynn at Faneuil Hall (9501947193)
President Ronald Reagan meeting with President Corazon Aquino of the Philippines in the Oval Office (cropped)
Corazon Aquino inauguration
Isang Daang Taon sa Bukang-liwayway, Palma Hall, UP Diliman
Visual Style
L'esthétique associée à Corazón Aquino est dominée par le jaune lumineux de ses partisans, la lumière tropicale de Manille et l'imagerie catholique mêlée aux symboles de résistance démocratique des années 1980.
AI Prompt
Philippine democracy era visual style, 1980s Southeast Asia political photography, warm tropical light, crowds of people in yellow clothing holding flowers and candles, Catholic religious imagery blended with political protest, Manila streets with banners and portraits, documentary photography aesthetic, warm golden tones with deep shadows, images of peaceful masses facing military tanks, official government portraits in formal Filipino dress, hand-painted political murals
Sound Ambience
L'univers sonore de Corazón Aquino mêle la ferveur religieuse des prières et cantiques catholiques aux clameurs des foules populaires réunies dans les rues de Manille pour défendre la démocratie.
AI Prompt
Crowd chanting and singing in Filipino streets, rosary beads clicking rhythmically, church bells ringing in Manila, prayer songs echoing through cathedral halls, demonstrators singing hymns and folk songs, distant military helicopters, political rally speeches through crackling megaphones, tropical rain on Manila rooftops, vendors calling out in Tagalog markets, the rustling of yellow ribbons and banners in the wind
Portrait Source
Wikimedia Commons — domaine public — Presidential Communications Operations Office — 2014
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Références
Ĺ’uvres
Constitution des Philippines de 1987
1987
Loi de réforme agraire globale (CARP)
1988
Abolition de la loi martiale et libération des prisonniers politiques
1986
Rétablissement du Congrès bicaméral
1987
Négociations de paix avec la guérilla communiste
1986-1987
